Ashley Furniture Industries is deploying a pallet stacking machine designed by UW-Stout engineering students, with plans to build six more.  The student team created the machine for a Senior Design Experience II capstone course, and presented it last month during a showcase for faculty and representatives of the Arcadia-based furniture

Logistics software firm Renaissant has launched a new voice-based AI “clerk” to help coordinate shipments — something the company says will improve efficiency while addressing security concerns.  The Milwaukee company yesterday announced the “breakthrough” technology is being piloted at several large sites, following earlier development at UW-Milwaukee’s Microsoft AI Co-Innovation

Fewer Wisconsin bank leaders rated the state economy as “excellent” in the latest Wisconsin Bankers Association survey, though expectations for the coming six months remain stable.  The group recently rolled out its biannual Economic Conditions Survey of bank CEOs in Wisconsin. It found 79% of respondents rated the current health

Statewide home sales declined 9.2% over the year in November, signaling a “cooling market” as the year comes to a close.  That’s according to the Wisconsin Realtors Association, which is rolling out their latest monthly housing report today. A total of 5,093 homes were sold in the state last month,

Republican lawmakers are seeking to make changes to a WEDC grant program that they say would better support the state’s tourism industry.  Reps. Tony Kurtz of Wonewoc and David Armstrong of Rice Lake, along with Sen. Patrick Testin of Stevens Point, are circulating a co-sponsorship memo seeking support for LRB-3566/LRB-5743.

A financial expert predicts “much less volatility” standing in the way of economic growth next year.  Brad Tank, a UW-Madison grad, made the prediction during a recent Wisconsin Alumni Association webinar. He holds a senior advisory role with Neuberger Berman, a New York investment management firm with more than $500

The first cohort of the UW-Green Bay Pre-Accelerator program includes Wisconsin startups developing advanced wound dressings, data analysis platforms, anti-fraud programs and more.  The university and startup accelerator gener8tor yesterday announced the inaugural cohort for the free, seven-week program. It’s meant to help entrepreneurs develop their early-stage companies through “intensive

WARF is spotlighting an altered form of soybean plant as a top licensing prospect, with potential applications in food dye production as an alternative to more harmful synthetic chemicals.  The soybean plant was engineered to produce large amounts of a natural red pigment called betalain in hopes of replacing synthetic

A new advocacy group called the Northwoods Policy Network has formed to promote the state’s northern region, with a focus on business attraction and economic viability for rural communities.  Paul Schecklman, the nonprofit’s executive director, says the group aims to drive conversations around what’s important for northern Wisconsin and help

Legislation from Dem authors would revive WEDC’s Main Street Bounceback program with state funding, establishing it permanently in Wisconsin statute.  Sen. Kelda Roys of Madison and Rep. Alex Joers of Waunakee sent a co-sponsorship memo late last week to other lawmakers seeking support for LRB-5328. They point to the success

Dem Gov. Tony Evers has appointed John W. Miller to serve as secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Miller is a former Universities of Wisconsin regent. But Senate Republicans refused to confirm the appointment after Miller vocally opposed a deal the system cut with Assembly Speaker Robin

A recent survey from Neenah-based compliance firm J. J. Keller & Associates found labor shortages, rising material costs and job site safety are top challenges facing construction companies.  The company’s research arm, the J. J. Keller Center for Market Insights, yesterday issued the study results alongside the American Society of

The Legislative Audit Bureau is recommending WEDC establish a written policy for when it should revoke tax credits after recipients don’t meet the terms of their contract.  LAB on Friday released its latest report on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., which includes 14 recommendations for improvements as well as an

Concerns around risk allocation and economic viability are the main hurdles to further nuclear energy development, according to a UW-Madison expert.  Prof. Paul Wilson, chair of the university’s Department of Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics, spoke yesterday during a policy event hosted by the Wisconsin Conservative Energy Forum at the

Wisconsin’s competitive edge in biotech is being threatened by “national headwinds” for the industry, according to a startup specialist at WEDC.  Shayna Hetzel, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., spoke yesterday during a meeting of the agency’s board of directors. Representing the Wisconsin Investment

QTS Data Centers has announced a new research effort with UW-Madison, putting $1.5 million toward improving data center sustainability.  The global digital infrastructure business and the university on Friday announced the Advancing Data Center Sustainability research initiative, which involves the UW-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and other faculty across

A panel discussion around AI highlighted differing views on the technology’s potential for workforce disruption in Wisconsin, with some in state government more optimistic than others.  Yesterday’s WisBusiness-WisPolitics-State Affairs luncheon event was held in UW-Milwaukee’s Connected Systems Institute, which helps advance industrial technology applications with Microsoft’s help for manufac… Please